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Perceptions of healthcare workers for lung cancer screening programs and public health promotion activities in primary health care settings in Greece (Master thesis)

Παπαδόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος/ Papadopoulos, Konstantinos

The aim of the present study was to identify the attitudes and the knowledge on the risk factors associated with lung cancer, the barriers of participation in lung cancer screening programs as well as the factors that affect their inclusion in public health prevention activities. A total of 49 questionnaires from employees in the regional hospital of Agios Nikolaos in Crete were collected during the month of January 2024. Over 50% of the respondents believe that lung X-ray is the indicated lung cancer screening method and Low Dose Computerized Tomography comes second. A small percentage (6%) stated that they did not know which is the indicated lung cancer screening test. Over 8 in 10 respondents correctly believe that screening is associated with lung cancer early diagnosis. They also believe that those who smoke one cigarette pack per day should be invited to lung cancer screening (32.6%), and 30.4% those who smoke for 30 years or longer. 32% of the respondents believe that the target age group for lung cancer screening is 45-75 years, 23.4% correctly believe 50-75 years and 25.5% 45-80 years. The reported major barriers to lung cancer screening are cost of the screening test, lack of knowledge of the healthcare professionals on the available screening choices, fear and stigma, lack of trained personnel and lack of specialized centers for lung cancer screening. The findings of this study are in accordance with other studies in primary healthcare professionals and show that there is need to educate them on lung cancer screening methodology and on the delivery of preventive public health interventions. The suggested actions include training sessions, partnerships with other professional specialties involved in lung cancer screening and the development of educational material addressing the general population with which the primary health care professionals will use to contribute to the increased use of the available lung cancer prevention and screening services.